what do you want of me?

(Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)

Give me death, or give me life,

health or sickness,

War or swelling peace,

Weakness or full strength,

Yes, to these I say

What do you want of me?

Give me wealth or want,

delight or distress,

Happiness or gloominess,

Heaven or hell,

Sweet life, sun unveiled

To you I give all

What do you want of me?

Give me, if you will, prayer,

Or let me know dryness,

An abundance of devotion,

Or if not, then barrenness

In you alone, Sovereign Majesty,

I find my peace,

What do you want of me?

Give me then wisdom

Or for love, ignorance,

Years of abundance,

Or hunger and famine,

Darkness or sunlight,

Move me here or there;

What do you want of me?

If you want to see me rest,

I desire it for love,

If to labor,

I will die working,

Sweet Love, say

Where, how and when.

What do you want of me?

Yours I am, for you I was born.

What do you want of me?

-St. Teresa of Avila

(Norcross, Georgia, USA)

in this time of contrast, I wish I could speak with St. Teresa.

in this time of in-between, I read her words and I pray that my heart would find in them a prayer, a hope, a belief.